💐

just learn the history of the subculture you’re interested in, or the one that you think matches up the most with your values, and carefully take it from there. if your values promote kindness, community and liberation, then you might align more with hippies. if your values advocate for violently dismantling government control, then you might align more with punks. if your values align with both, then you’re both. if your values align with neither, then find a different subculture or movement.

Hippies, on the other hand, are everything that conservatives hate. A movement that was built on body autonomy, sexual freedom, anti-war and total liberation is exactly what conservatives are shitting their pants over. Punks are easier for conservatives to hijack and claim, but a conservative wouldn’t touch a hippie with a barge pole.

You turn to face Price, the captain of the ship, and the expedition you'd signed up for. He was surprisingly your biggest ally in defending you against your cultural ignorance. Mostly because he had misinterpreted your handshake and smile upon introducing yourself to him as a sign you wanted to mate.

Price's alien species reminded you a lot of if Drax and a werewolf had a baby; though you would never tell him that. "Poison? Is this another engery drink situation?" You probe as you set your clipboard down. You always volunteered to do the weekly count. It brought you a sense of peace.

"No, it's bad poison. You know it's poison, and you still have it." He scolds, pulling your hand finished bottle of whiskey out of his belt.

"Oh, my whiskey. It's alcohol."

"Alcohol belongs in the medical bay." Price was getting more frustrated with your replies and the lack of care for your well-being. "Do you enjoy drinking poison?"

"Well, rubbing alcohol and drinking alcohol is different. It's not good for me, that's for sure, but the effects are nice. I'd have to drink a lot more than I'd be comfortable drinking to really hurt myself." You explain as John raises an eyebrow skeptically.

"You are microdosing on poison." He mutters in disbelief, his tail wagging slowly as he thinks. "That's not good for you."

It's a qualifying race. One of the last few before the world championship. Gaz and Soap only have to place in the top 5 to qualify. Ghost isn't racing this one, he's already qualified.

The conditions are perfect. It's a beautiful day. And maybe that's what Ghost will be angry about the most.

Soap is in the lead. Gaz trailing not too far behind. It's always them two, neck and neck. Price's best racers.

Ghost watches Soap peeling down the last of the track. He'll cross in first. No doubt.

And then behind him. Gaz's bike wobbles. He's prepared for track debris. It's always a possibility.

But then the wobble turns into a roll. Gaz doesn't let go soon enough. He's flung around the bike, body slamming across pavement. He's hardly off the track. The other racers will see him. They'll go out wide.

Ghost knows they'll see him. But his body's already jumping barriers. Ignoring Price's shouts. The emergency crew is already in front of him.

Gaz isn't moving.

Ghost stands frozen just outside their circle. They've moved him off the track. He can't see more than glimpses of Gaz's still body between their moving hands. He demands to know something. anything. and they just order him back to his pit.

It's Soap's arms that come around his chest. Strong and hard. Warping tight and pulling hard. Telling Ghost something about getting back and out of the way. Soap's panting, he must have sprinted out as soon as he cleared off the track. the scene before him now displayed on every screen. tearing off his helmet and beelining for the group.

Ghost lets Soap pull him back to the wall on shaky legs. And they watch, Soap's arms never letting loose, as Gaz is lifted into the UTV and driven off.

Soap is panting against Ghost's back. Which is enough to make Ghost turn, checking Soap's first, then the pallor of his skin. Winded. Exhausted.

Soap leans into him, promising, through that blind hope Soap always has, the Gaz must be okay.

Ghost leads them both off the track and back to the pits. Price is gone, of course.

His hand is shaking when he hands Soap water. Soap takes the water. Then his hand. And pulls him down to sit on the bench next to him.

Ghost forces his mask down off his face. Struggling to breath now, and forces the image of Gaz's still body out of his mind. Pouring water over his own hand and wiping it over his face.

"He'll be alright." Soap says, leaning heavily into Ghost's side. "He's Gaz. He'll be alright."

Getting you to trust Price was surprisingly easy. Because the guys were staying for longer than expected and their mission was technically over, they needed a place to stay. Thankfully Alejandro was able to arrange a place for all of them almost directly next to his team. But the place was mostly empty, only really had the major furnishings like beds, couches, and a table. Other than appliances the kitchen was entirely empty, so Price headed out with Alejandro to the store, and so that you could feel more comfortable knowing there was food for you, he also took you.

But before you left the house, Price went out to get you things to help while being out and about. He got you cute bunny ear muffs, both to help hide your ears, and because he knew you had sensitive hearing and being in a store surrounded by people would likely be too much. He got you something small to fidget with and a small stuffed animal, just so you had something to hold. There wasn't much he could do to hide your tail, so he bought a long dress and a long jacket to go over your regular clothes. Price let you choose what you wanted to wear. He just wanted you to be comfortable while still hiding you from the public like Laswell had recommended.

You just stared out the window while driving to the store. You recognized everything, but yet it still looked different to what you remember, maybe that's what happens when you're locked in someone's basement for years. You guys were there before you could dwell on it too much. Price patiently waited for you to get out of the car, you immediately were hiding behind his legs, no one was watching you but you hadn't seen this many people in years, and you're all too aware of how you look compared to normal people. Price walked in the front, letting you hide behind him, and Alejandro walked behind you, not too close to make you feel trapped but close enough to make sure nothing happened to you.

Price didn't rush through the store, but he also didn't linger in one place for too long. At first you just watched Price, saw everything he was looking at and what he picked up. Mostly you just stared blankly, but when he grabbed something sweet you could help staring. Alejandro saw you clutch your stuffed animal harder, mouth slightly open, and he saw the disappointment on your face when Price put it back down. Price moved forward but Alejandro stopped him, he picked up what Price was just looking at “¿Quieres esto?” (Do you want this?) you nodded slowly, and Alejandro passed it to Price to put it in the basket. “Make sure you tell me what you want something, just pull on my shirt” Price waited for you to nod before continuing.

By the time you guys left the store Price somehow had multiple sweet deserts, juices, candy, and even some more crayons in the basket. You happily followed Price to the checkout, hiding behind his leg so the cashier couldn’t see you. Even with you attempting to hide, they still saw you, even offered you a sticker. When you guys got in the car, Price snapped a picture of you, candy in one hand, juice in the other, sticker on your face, you weren’t exactly smiling but you were clearly happy, Price sent the picture to Ghost with a  thumbs up.

No one knows your name, but everyone knows you're "ghost whisperer" which, in your opinion, is a shit nickname.

Why that name? Because you're the only one ghost listens to.

If anyone needs anything from ghost, reports, papers, signatures or anything else, they go through you. Because through you it actually gets done instead of brushed off or on rare occasions spitefully burned.

The current rumor is that, being prices kid, you're protected by the captain and ghost has to listen to you.

Other rumors include you and ghost having a...different kind of relationship.

The truth?

Nearly every Saturday you and ghost meet up late into the night at one of the gyms your friend owns, and you beat the shit out of him. As it happens, the way to earn ghosts respect is to accidentally send him to medical at least once every few months.